Casket



Patented July 4, 1933 orrse STATES GEORGE A. PHELPS, OF FLEMINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA CASKET Application filed. November 13, 1931.

This invention relates to burial caskets, the primary object of the invention being to provide a casket having a vertically movable inner section or tray on which the corpse is laid,

5 means being provided for raising the inner section to elevate the corpse to a position substantially on a level with the upper edge of the casket.

An important object of the invention is to provide a casket having a movable tray section including side and end rails embodyingupper and lower sections pivotally connected so that the upper section may fold downward- 1 lyover the lower section, converting the casket into a casket of couch form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a casket including a vertically movable frame in which the tray is positioned, to the end that the tray may be removed and the corpse placed thereon, whereupon the tray may be positioned within the frame, the weight of the corpse being suflicient to move the tray to its lowermost position within the casket. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without de- 5 parting from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a casket constructed in accordance with the invention, the cover thereof being shown as 44) open.

Serial No. 574,818.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the latch operating member.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the body portion of the casket is indicated generally by the reference character 5, the cover for the body portion being indicated by the reference character 6.

Arranged within the body portion, and disposed in spaced relation with the ends thereof, are partitions 7, which are formed with cut out portions in the upper edges thereof, to receive the pulleys 8. Pulleys 9 are secured'to the outer surface of the partitions 7, and operate at right angles to'the pulleys 8. Pulleys 1O operate at right angles to the 6 pulleys 9, and are disposed in cut out portions formeo in the forward edges of the partitions 7, the peripheries of the pulleys 10, operating in planes with the lower edges of the pulleys 9.

Longitudinal grooves 11 are formed in the inner surface of the front wall of the body portion 5, and extend from points near the ends of the body portion, to a point substantially intermediate the ends of the body portion.

Elongated openings are formed in the front wall of the body portion and communicate with the grooves 11, the elongated openings being designed to accommodate the shanks of the knobs 12, the inner ends of the shanks extending into the grooves, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings.

Arranged within the body portion of the casket is a vertically movable frame 13, which is normally held to the limit of its upward movement, by means of the coiled springs 14, which are arranged in pairs at the ends of the frame 13, the springs being positioned within vertical cut out portions formed in the ends of the frame 13.

Cords 15 have connection with the end bars of the vertically movable frame 18, and as shown these cords operate over the puln5 leys, the opposite ends of the cords being secured to the inner ends of the bars 12' that are secured to the shanks of the knobs 12, the opposite ends of the bars 12 being formed with inwardly extended notched end portions 13.

If the knobs 12 are moved inwardly to wards each other, the cords will be pulled elevating the vertically movable frame.

It will of course be understood that the Vertically movable frame is moved to its lowermost position, under the weight of the corpse positioned within the removable tray of the bed portion of the casket, and is ele vated by the cords, to bring the corpse to a position near the upper edge of the casket where it may be viewed.

In order that both ends of the vertically movable frame will move in unison, a rod indicated at 16 is provided, the rod being pivotally mounted within the casket along one edge thereof. This rod is formed with right angled end portions 17 that have pivotal connection with the links 18 that in turn are connected with the end bars of the inner removable frame.

Extending across the corners of the vertically movable frame, at the bottom thereof, are supporting plates 19, on which the removable tray or bed section 20, is positioned, the bed section being provided upon pivoted side rails 21. The side rails 21 are constructed of bars of half round material, the upper sections 22 thereof being designed to fold outwardly and downwardly in a manner as shown by Figure 4 of the drawings, to provide what is known as a couch casket, when the inner frame and bed section carried thereby, is moved upwardly to the limit of its upward movement.

It will of course be understood that the side rails are covered with suitable material to match the lining of the casket, and padded in such a way as to lend a pleasing appearance to the casket.

The reference character 28 designates a frame formed with slots in its ends to receive the braces 24 that connect with the cover 6, to hold the cover in its open position.

This frame is of a size to permit the tray or bed section 20 to move upwardly therethrough, and acts to give the casket a pleasmg appearance.

This frame 23 is removably held in position, and may be readily removed to adjust the operating mechanism, should the operating mechanism be rendered inoperative.

Sockets 25 are formed in the frame, and provide keepers for the pins 26 that have notches to cooperate with the upwardly extended end portions 27 of the sliding rod 28 which moves in a guide groove formed in the upper edge of the body portion of the casket.

A latch operating lever 29 extends upwardly from a point substantially intermediate the upper and lower edges of the front wall of the casket where it connects with the sliding rod 28.

A coiled spring 30 connects with the rod 28, and has its opposite end anchored to the body portion of the casket, with the result that when the rod is moved to release the cover, the spring is placed under tension to the end that the rod is returned to its normal or inactive position when the latch operating lever is released.

A finger piece indicated at 81 has connection with the shaft 32 that extends through the front wall of the casket, where it connects with the latch operating lever 29, to transmit movement thereto.

Forming a part of the operating lever 29, are arms 34, which extend laterally therefrom, the arms 34 being provided with notches to engage with the notched ends 13' of the arms 12, when the arms 12 are moved inwardly, so that the vertically movable frame will be held in its elevated position.

It might be further stated, that the cover is provided with a compartment that is normally closed by means of the closure 33, the closure being constructed of translucent material. This compartment is designed for containing flowers which may be viewed through the closure, when the cover 6 is in its open position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that from the construction shown and described, I have provided a casket in which the body may either rest at the bottom of the casket, or may be elevated to a position where it may be readily viewed, and the casket converted from the ordinary casket to the couch type of casket.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A burial casket comprising a body portion, a vertically movable frame within the body portion, yieldable members connected with the frame for normally holding the frame in an elevated positon, said frame adapted to move to the bottom of the body portion under the weight of a body positioned thereon, and manually controlled elevating means for elevating the frame and its contents.

2. A burial casket comprising a body portion, a vertically movable frame mounted within the body portion, pivoted side members on the frame and adapted to fold outwardly over the upper edge of the body portion when the frame is elevated to the limit of its upward movement, and means for elevating the frame.

8. A burial casket comprising a body portion, a vertically movable frame within the body portion, cords connected with the ends of the frame, pulleys over which the cords operate, slidable bars to which the cords are connected, said bars adapted to operate the cords to elevate the frame to a position flush with the top of the body portion, and means cooperating with the bars for securing the bars, cords and frame against movement.

4. A burial casket comprising a body portion, a Vertically movable frame Within the body portion, coiled springs connectecl with the frame and body portion normally urging the frame to the limit of its upward movement, said frame adapted to move clown- Wardly under the Weight of a body placed GEORGE A. PHELPS. 

